I've read people are now being treated for Internet addiction. How does one know if she is addicted to the Web?

"Internet addiction" isn't formally recognized as a mental disorder. But many therapists are hearing complaints and problems related to what might be considered excessive or inappropriate online activity.

A woman may complain that her husband comes home and gets online rather than spending time with her or the children. A single person may spend most of his or her free time in cyberspace rather than forming and maintaining relationships in "real" life. Before unlimited-access ISP deals became more common, some people ran up bills of hundreds of dollars a month ‑- that they could ill afford ‑- in access or telephone charges.

Yes, someone can spend so much time browsing the Web, or chatting or emailing cyberfriends, that it might be considered addictive or compulsive behavior. Although there are no formal criteria for what some call "Internet addiction," you might think about whether your online activity creates problems in your personal or work life.

For example, do you spend so much time online that your relationship with spouse, children or friends suffers? Do you engage in cybersex or virtual "affairs" as a way of avoiding, numbing or "medicating" painful feelings or problems in your marriage? (Excessive viewing and downloading of pornography Websites, or engaging in cybersex, can be a form of what's been called "sexual addiction" or compulsive sexual activity.)

Overall, does surfing the Net become a regular escape from real-life problems that you aren't addressing? Does it cause real-life problems, such as excessive phone bills? Do you spend so much time online that you aren't taking care of other important aspects of your life?

Answering "yes" to any of these questions doesn't necessarily mean you're addicted to the Internet, at least not in terms of a clinical disorder. But it may mean that it's time to turn off the computer for a while. Spend some time with your friends and family. If problems become more apparent, or you have difficulty managing your feelings or behavior, consider seeking counseling or therapy to help you understand what's going on, to widen your repertoire of coping skills and to resolve personal or domestic problems.